Metallic bellows



Oct. 27, 1953 D. P. SCHWESTER ET AL METALLIC BELLOWS Fi1ed s 17, 1950 ATTORNEYS Patentecl Oct. 27, 1953 METALLIC BELLOWS Daniel P. Schwester, East Orange, and John J.

Phillips, West Dran mesne assignments,

N. J a corporation ge, N. J., assignors, by to Titeflex, Inc. Newark, of Massachusetts Application August 17, 1950, Serial N0. 179,901

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to improvements in the construction of bellovvs cf =the type which consiscs of a, number of discs, usually annular and suitably shaped in order that each may be joined at its outer edge to a similar dise at one side and ab its inner edge to a similar disc on the other sicle. This type of bellows is wel1 known and widely used for connecting movable parts 130 provide a fiuid-tight expansion joint therebetween.

When such bellows are used to connect parts Which move slowly in relation to each othe1, the bellows may be termed a stati-c bellows, but when the connected pa1ts move 1apidly with respect 130 each other the bellows may be termed a dynamic bellows. It is in -connection With the latte1 type of be1lows that difficulties arise which it is the particular object of this invention to overcome and 120 which this invention particularly relates.

II; has been observed that bellows of the dynamic type are apt 110 develop failures ab r near the abutmen-ts where the end diaphragms are welded t0 a flange attached to one 0f the relatively movable parts, 01 near such points. This is apparently due 120 the extra working 0f -the metal at these points because high frequency vibrations of the moving parts -tend 120 concentrate there instead of being uniformly distributed -throughout the several members of the whole bellovvs structure.

II: is an object of the present inven-tion to provide a bellows cf the dynamic type which will withstand high frequency vibrations and avoid. failure at er near the attaching fianges.

It is a further objec-t of the invention to provide a bellows structure in which the flexing of the metal diaphragms will be substantially uniform when subjected to high frequency Vibrations.

II; is another object of the invention to provide diaphragrns of varying degrees of flexibility 130 the end thaI: when seid diaphragms are united into a single bellows structure the relative fiexibility thereof shall decrease from. the approximate midpoint toward the attached. ends.

The invention may find many practical applications one o1" which, selected for purposes of illustration, is that cf providing a flexible fluid-tighb sea1 between tvvo sections of ehe exhaust conduit 0f an internal combustion engine. Such anil1ustrative embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, which is a view of a form of bellows embodying our invention, part- 1y in longitudinal vertical section and part1y in elevation.

The Single figure of iahe drawings shows two telescoping pipes I and 2 whi=ch for example, may constitute the exhaust conduit cf an internal combustion engine. A flange 3 is welded to the pipe I and a flange 4 to the p-ipe 2. Between the flanges a plurality of diaphragms are arranged so that the fianges are connected by a. fluid-tight oasing which Will permit the pipes i and 2 move longitudinally with respect to each other with fiexing of the diaphragms.

As shown in ehe drawing, the several diaphragms are a1ike in size and shape but difierent in thickness, being stamped or forged out of suitable sheet meta1. In the illustrative embodiment, each diaphragm is an annular disc having a central aperture of uniform diameter and being of the same over-all diameter. The effect; of the construction illustrated is to impart a degree of flexibility the diaphragms ad: and near the center of the bellows which is higher than that of the diaphragms at 01 near the attaching flanges, to the end that the s-tresses due Iso high frequency vibrations may be distributed With some degree of uniformity over the enbire bellows structure and not concentrated, as heretofore, at or near the fianges with consequent failure ab the points of stress concentration.

Referring to the drawing it will be observed that, the central diaphragm element comprises two diaphr-agms I0 and II of uniform thickness. For example, in a be1lows ha.ving a cantra1 aperture of 2 inches in diameter and an outside diameter of 3% inches, sheet metal o-f .005 inch in thickness may be used. II: will also be observed that the diaphragm elements on each side of the central element, composed of dlaphragm elements I2, I3 and I2, I3 are of uniform thickness but greater than that of the diaphragms I0 and I I. For example, sheet meta1 .0075 inch thick may be used. The next diaphragm elements flanking the central group of three are shown of laminated construction, each of these, namely, I4, I5 and l4 I5 being formed of two layers cf sheet metal .005 inch thick for a total thickness of .010 inch. Finally ehe last diaphragms I6 and I6 at each end of the bellows are also of laminated construetion consisting of one layer of .005 inch thick sheet metal with another of .0075 inch for a total thickness of .0125 inch.

II; will, of course, be understood that the number of diaphragm elements may be extended 110 provide a longer bellows if desired, and that; if this is done each diaphragm element will be made progressive 1ess flexible, in the manner above described by using still thicker sheet metal or by laminating as indicated, or by both.

The several diaphragms having been formed and selected as above described, they may be assembled in the following manner.

Ordinarily the assembly will.start ;at one end and progress joint by joint 120 =the =other end, eilthough the procedure may be varied as will be later indicated. In any event a suitable assembly assembly jig or fixture will be required 120 hold the diaphragms in place by engagement =w'iiih =the central aperture whi1e the outer-edges are being welded and by engagement With ,the outer edge while the inner edges are -being welded. IIhe first step is to place the flange 3 in the jig, zthen p1ace the two laminae making up dia,phragm IG therein and we1cl the outer margins of 'these two laminae together and to the unter periphery of the fiange. The next step is to place the fiange and auached diaphragm in another jig, move the two laminae of dia.phragm 15' into place and weld together the inner margins 01 diaphragm I6 and I5 which comprise four thicknesses cf metaL The laminae forming a single diaphrag-m .may be Spot welde.d 110 -each other .before assembly if -desired.

'I'he assembly of the entire hellows may be carried out by repeating v in alternation -the ste ps just described .ina.manner which will be readily understood without further .explanation. If 26.6- sired. the proceduremay be varied by assembling one-,half cf the bellows as above described, then assembling the other half and .finally joining ehe -two halves by welding.together v1;he other edges of diaphragms 10 and H.

We claim as nur .invention:

A metallic bellows structure :adapted 120 con nect two relativelymovable ;parts 1:0 101 m a,flexi- .b1e anal expansible fiuid-tight joint therebetween, said bellovvs structure comprising,.incombination, a plurality of connected pairs 01 dished annular diaphragms of 1il e shape and size welded 120 each ooher a1; their outer margins -and 10 a djacent pairs -at their inner margins, the centralpa-ir -of =oonsisting 01 two laminated layers 01 metal, each layer corresponding substantially in gauge 110 that -of the first mentioned centra1 pair of diaphragms, =and ou-ter end diaphragms consist- :ing of two laminated layers cf metal o1" which one layer;substantially corresponds in gauge 10 that 01" the=central pair and the 0111er lay-er substantially corresponds in gauge to that 01 the second mentioned pairs 01 diaphragms.

DANIEL P. SCHWESTER. JOHN J. PHILLIPS.

.=References Cited in ohe .fi1e 01 this patent UNI'IPED STATES PATENTS Numoe1 Name Date 962,951 Fulton June28, 1910 979,460 Fulton Das. 27,1910

.1,191,486 Tyler Ju1y 18,1916 1,'345;971 Star July 6, 1920 1,54'7,341 Mallory Ju1y "28 1925 .211'7,219 Shaw May 10, 1938 2,I72,'6 12 Hassenkamm Sept. 12, 1939 2207;-146 Fentress=et a1 Ju1y 9, 1940 2,284,354 Gunn May 12, 1942 2,337,266 Holland 0012.23, 1945 "2;4'70;167 Hobbseta1 May 1"7 1949 2,487,410 Banker Nov. 8, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS 'Number Country Date 471,118 Germany Feb. "7, 1929 142,531 Germany Dec. 1, 1930 709,941 'France Aug. 14, 1931 721,497 France Mal. 3, 1932 746,015 France May 20, 1933 

